Esports have become extremely popular. If you’re not already familiar with them, esports are simply video gaming in a highly competitive, organized environment. The games can range from team-oriented multiplayer battles to first-person shooters and more, and esports events can attract millions of spectators, who may be viewing online or who, in smaller numbers, are following the action live at the event venue.
Although there is some discussion about how far back the phenomenon of esports truly goes in its origins, the general consensus is that competitive gaming first began to take shape in the 1990s. Games such as “Doom” and “Quake” set the stage for competitive events. By the early 2000s, competitive gaming had attracted the attention of sponsors and investors, and today, esports has transformed into a huge industry that has professional teams, leagues and tournaments all over the world. Below is a look at how esports have changed the gaming industry itself.
How esports has changed the gaming industry
The gaming industry is constantly evolving, such is its general nature and the pressure on gaming companies to keep ahead of the competition and produce evermore engaging games for fans. Esports has had a massive impact on the gaming industry. Here are some of the main ways in which it has done so:
Changes in game design
This is one of the biggest changes that esports have generated in the industry. Now, games developers are considering the design of their games with esports in mind more. They’re creating games that are easy for spectators to understand and watch.
Another industry, which is part of the gaming industry and in which design is a massive consideration, is the online casino industry. Competition for new players is fierce, and operators refresh their offering regularly to retain existing players and attract new ones. This inspires the operators to offer games that are engaging for players and easy for them to play and understand.
(More) Frequent updates to games
A lot of games in the esports world receive updates every two or three weeks. This is done to keep the gameplay fair and each character in a game a viable option. Developers update the games with new content and by tweaking existing content.
The regular updates suggest that esports games are living, breathing developments. They’re also evidence of a suggested greater communication between gamers and games developers. The latter are taking advantage of the ability to tweak games as they go along to address glitches or unpopular scenarios involving the game.
Development of professional gaming
The emergence and rise of esports has created a new industry in which gamers can turn professional and make their living from gaming. “Fierce” doesn’t even begin to describe how stiff the competition is and how tough it is to achieve this, but there are lots of teams and organizations out there to support players who are doing this.
Respect for professional gamers
Another big development has been a change in the way people view and treat professional gamers. Before, people looked down upon them as nerds or losers who spent all their time sitting in a basement, playing video games and having no future ahead of them. Today, professional gamers have something of a celebrity status and have fans from all over the world who follow them. Jang “Moon” Jae-Ho, considered the greatest “Warcraft 3” player of all time; Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, the most famous “Quake” player there has ever been and America’s most important gamer of all time; and “The Beast” Daigo Umehara, one of the first global esports stars and Japan’s 1997 national “Street Fighter” champion; are just some of the big names in the esports world.
Greater demand for gaming hardware
Gamers look for the best gaming experience possible. The popularity of esports has created a demand for greater high-quality gaming hardware. The increased demand for high-quality has led to specialized pieces of gaming equipment such as high-performance gaming mice and gaming keyboards.
Extra revenue for the gaming industry
The popularity esports enjoy has created extra revenue for the gaming industry. Advertising, ticket sales and sponsorships for esports events and tournaments can generate lots of revenue for the industry.
Just like some extremely wealthy sports club owners, major deals and players who earn significant sums dominate the sports headlines regularly, some people are expecting the world of esports to sooner or later experience this same level of phenomenon. Some observers have also suggested that there is a closer connection between esports, money and marketing than there is in some traditional sports.
Esports have grown immensely popular, and players and teams have fans following them from around the world. Platforms such as Twitch have helped players to really develop a passion for esports as they can follow their favorite players and learn from them. Have you ever tried following an esports event? Why not give it a try and enjoy some of the excitement of esports.
Also Read: SheIS partners with Lazarus Esports
